Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02274447 1999-06-14
AUTONOMOUS TILTING PLATFORM UNIT
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to scaffolding, and more
particularly to an autonomous multi-position working platform
unit intended especially for repair and renovation work of
large scale construction structures such as hydroelectric
dams or other civil engineering works.
BACKGROUND
The repairing of dams is carried out in environments
that involve many constraints: infrastructure having an
important slope; work surfaces varying between 0-90°;
security of the workers; important weight of the equipment,
and vibrations produced by certain types of equipment (e. g.
drill); delays for the work; complex installations; required
precision in the work achievement; non conventional
scaffolding; limited workspace; difficult and limited access;
cluttering of the work areas.
The execution of the work requires complex logistics
which must adapt to the environmental conditions and ensure
the security of the workers. At this time, the work is
carried out on precarious installations that do not respect
certain or all of the aforesaid constraints.
The conventional method for the execution of the work on
dam runners requires the full-time mobilization of a crane,
the continuous moving of scaffolding, the operation of tools
on various work surfaces, a constricting security program,
many persons to meet the needs of the workers, exhausting
work for the drillers, long delays in the fulfilment of the
work, etc. For example, the project manager establishes the
work methods and the appropriate directives, and plans the
intervention of subcontractors, the site operations, the
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various work stages, the work schedule and the budgets. He
proceeds with the purchase and rental of the material,
equipment and other required elements, and then to the design
of the scaffolding with the assistance of a structure
engineer to meet the requirements of the contractor, the
Committee for social security and health, and the owner. The
contractor then proceeds with the production of the
scaffolding according to the plans. Procedures are developed
for the set-up of the equipment and the tools, and their
removal when the work is finished. To install the scaffolding
and continuously move it, for example, to drill holes at
various locations, a crane must be installed permanently
during the entire time of the work execution. At each move,
the scaffolding must be anchored on its base, which takes
time and requires considerable labour force. The staircase of
the scaffolding must be lengthened on the entire length of
the runner during displacement of the scaffolding, which
represents highly important equipment costs. The drilling of
holes is executed by hand, which constitutes a very
exhausting and dangerous work for the workers.
SUMMARY
An object of the invention is to provide a platform unit
that overcomes the drawbacks associated with the methods and
equipment of the prior art.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a
platform unit, which facilitates the job of the workers and
improves the security level on sites.
A subsidiary object of the invention is to provide such
a platform unit, which can go up or down on the slope of a
dam runner or another structure according to the requirements
of an operator located on the platform.
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A subsidiary object of the invention is to provide such
a platform unit, which can be level adjusted over a large
range of tilt angles.
A subsidiary object of the invention is to provide such
a platform unit, capable of moving closer to the work
surface .
A subsidiary object of the invention is to provide such
a platform unit, capable of receiving drilling and other
tools and allowing their whole operation.
A subsidiary object of the invention is to provide such
a platform unit providing the space required for receiving an
operator with specialized workers, in an entirely autonomous
manner.
A subsidiary object of the invention is to provide such
a platform unit, which reduces work costs and delays.
According to the present invention, there is provided an
autonomous tilting platform unit for infrastructure work over
a 0-90° slanted surface, comprising:
a carriage assembly having front and rear portions
provided respectively with means for gliding against the
slanted surface;
a platform assembly pivotally connected to the carriage
assembly at the front portion thereof;
an autonomous motor unit mounted on the carriage
assembly through a pendulum assembly;
a jack means extending between the carriage assembly and
the platform assembly, powered by the motor unit for
adjustably tilting the platform assembly with respect to the
carriage assembly;
a winch means mounted on the carriage assembly, powered
by the motor unit, for hoisting the platform unit along the
slanted surface, the winch means having a flexible means for
attaching the carriage assembly at an upward point on the
slanted surface; and
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a control means mounted on the platform assembly, for
operating the motor unit and controlling the jack means and
the winch means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A detailed description of preferred embodiments will be
given hereinbelow with reference to the following drawings,
in which like numbers refer to like elements:
- figure 1 is a side elevation view showing various
positions of a platform unit on a dam runner, according to
the invention;
- figure 2 is a partial enlarged view of the motor of
the platform unit shown in figure 1;
- figure 3 is a front elevation view showing a platform
unit on a dam runner, according to the invention;
- figure 4 is a cross section view taken along the line
4-4 in figure 3;
- figure 5 is a side view showing a platform unit on a
slanted work surface, according to the invention;
- figure 6 is a side view showing a platform unit on a
level work surface, according to the invention; and
- figure 7 is a partial enlarged view of the tool
installed on the platform unit shown in figure 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to figures 1 and 3, there is shown an
autonomous tilting platform unit according to the invention,
for infrastructure work over a 0-90° slanted surface like the
upright face of a concrete dam as illustrated. The platform
unit has a carriage assembly 4 having front and rear portions
provided with respective pairs of opposite wheels 6, 8
adapted to rest against the slanted surface 2 or a structural
member thereupon, and allowing the carriage assembly 4 to
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glide therealong. The wheels 6, 8 are rotatably mounted on
axles 28, 30 secured to the carriage assembly 4. The axles
28, 30 of the wheels 6, 8 of each pair preferably have
portions 32 projecting toward each other to provide channel
engaging members. Such members are especially useful for
holding back the carriage assembly 4 firmly in place over the
slanted surface 2 when the slanted surface 2 is provided with
runner channels 34 as best shown in figure 4.
A platform assembly 10 is pivotally connected to the
carriage assembly 4 at the front portion thereof by means of
a pivot 46 as best shown in figure 7, so as to be angularly
movable with respect thereto, thereby allowing to change its
tilt angle relative to the ground level. This property is
useful either for adjusting the tilt angle of a tool 60
mounted onto the platform assembly 10, or for levelling the
platform assembly 10 according to the slope of the slanted
surface 2.
Referring to figures 1 and 2, an autonomous motor unit
14 is mounted on the carriage assembly 4 through a pendulum
assembly 16 as best shown in figure 2. The pendulum assembly
16 is formed of a pair of spaced apart brackets 23 mounted
onto the carriage assembly 4, the brackets 23 having upper
ends between which the motor unit 14 is pivotally hanged. The
weight of the motor unit 14, as depicted by the arrow 18,
causes it to swivel as depicted by the arrows 20 so as to
always remain in the same axis (normally at the horizontal)
whatever the tilt angle of the platform unit on the slanted
surface 2 is. Such a feature is especially useful when the
motor unit 14 comprises an internal combustion engine 40
which under the present state of technology cannot operate
past a certain tilting degree.
Referring to figures 1 and 3, a jack device 22 extends
between the carriage assembly 4 and the platform assembly 10.
The jack device 22 is powered by the motor unit 14, for
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adjustably tilting the platform assembly 10 with respect to
the carriage assembly 4. The jack device 22 has a pair of
spaced apart, parallel cylinders 36 having ends pivotally
connected respectively to the carriage assembly 4 and the
platform assembly 10. The cylinders 36 may be hydraulic
cylinders. In such a case, the motor unit 14 is provided with
a hydraulic pump 38 powered by the combustion engine 40, the
hydraulic cylinders 36 then being operated by the hydraulic
pump 38.
A winch device 24, powered by the motor unit 14, is
mounted on the carriage assembly 4 for hoisting the tilting
platform unit along the slanted surface 2, so that the
tilting platform unit can be moved at the desired height as
shown for example in dashed lines for executing repair or
other work. Preferably, the winch device 24 has a pair of
spaced apart, independent winches 42 mounted onto the rear
portion of the carriage assembly 4 near opposite sides
thereof. The winches 42 are provided respectively with steel
cables 44 as best shown in figure 3, forming flexible means
for attaching the carriage assembly 4 at an upward point on
the slanted surface 2. The winches 42 may be hydraulic
winches operated by the hydraulic pump 38.
A control unit 26 is mounted on the platform assembly
10, for operating the motor unit 14 and controlling the jack
device 22 and the winch device 24. To this effect, the
control unit 26 controls the combustion engine 40 and the
hydraulic pump 38 (provided with an appropriate hydraulic
distribution system (not shown) that can easily be designed
by any person skilled in the art).
Referring to figure 7, the platform assembly 10
comprises a frame 48, a platform 50 slidably mounted onto the
frame 48 so that the platform 50 is moveable toward and away
from the slanted surface 2, a bridge 52 slidably mounted onto
the platform 50 so that the bridge 52 is moveable sideways
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relative to the slanted surface 2, and a device 54, 56
between the frame 48, the platform 50 and the bridge 52,
powered by the motor unit 14, for controllably moving the
bridge 52 with respect to the platform 50 and the platform 50
with respect to the frame 48. The control unit 26 controls
the devices 54, 56 for controllably moving the bridge 52 and
the platform 50. The devices 54, 56 can be formed of sprocket
wheels between and in engagement with respective opposite
dented rails, the sprocket wheels being operated by the motor
unit 14. Any other suitable device can be used to move the
bridge 52 relative to the platform 50 relative to the frame
48. For example, hydraulic cylinders or a multi-stage
clutched gearing system can be used. Depending on the needs,
the bridge 52 may be the only moveable part, or the platform
50, or even none of them.
Preferably, the platform assembly 10 is provided with an
upwardly projecting side railing 58, as best shown in figures
3 and 6. The top mobile bridge 52 should be sized to receive
at least one operator and working equipment such as a drill
60 with an articulated drilling mast 62 as best shown in
figure 5. The drilling mast 62 may be operated by the motor
unit 14 and the control unit 26. The platform unit can be
provided with a pneumatic system (not shown in the figures)
powered by the combustion engine 40 if pneumatic work
equipment is used. The platform unit can thereby receive
various tools and implements, like a hydraulic hammer, an
agitator, pins and other materials, etc. If the working
conditions are considered to be dangerous, then the control
unit 26 may rather be in the form of a remote control (not
shown in the figures), thereby allowing the operator to
control the platform unit and the equipment in a simple and
safe manner.
The installation of the platform unit on the slanted
surface 2 can be achieved with a temporary crane (not shown
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in the figures), which is not required during the time for
achieving the work on the structure. Thus the crane can be
dispatched elsewhere, and is not mobilized by the platform
unit. As soon as the cables 44 are secured to the runner
head, the platform unit becomes totally autonomous. Using the
winches 42, the platform unit can be hoisted and halted at
any desired height on the structure. The operator has all the
necessary displacement axes to allow for example a drilling
operation at the designed spot and angle with high accuracy,
as the platform assembly 10 can be moved laterally as well as
frontward or rearward relative to the surface 2.
The platform unit according to the invention has
attributes that allow execution of the work at an
incomparable speed, and presents qualities of flexibility as
various tools can be integrated thereto, notwithstanding that
the required materials for the work can be laid down on the
platform unit. Preferably, the platform unit has a capacity
load of 1.5 ton and meets the vibration stress caused by a
drill.
While embodiments of this invention have been
illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described above,
it will be evident to those skilled in the art that changes
and modifications may be made therein without departing from
the essence of this invention. All such modifications or
variations are believed to be within the scope of the
invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
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